Royal Children’s Hospital dear to VAFA hearts

The VAFA prides itself on being a family friendly Association with strong connections to charities and community partners that support the VAFA community.

This season the VAFA is working closely with the Good Friday Appeal to fundraise for the Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH), to support kids and their families in times of ill health.

As part of this fundraising campaign the VAFA has commissioned the opportunity for a lucky raffle winner to have a custom poster created by Herald Sun artist Mark Knight. All raffle proceeds will go directly to the Royal Children’s Hospital, along with all donations collected throughout the VAFA Finals season and 2024 Fundraising campaign.

The VAFA has many stories of people within its community connected to the RCH, including VAFA Vice President, Sarah Delbosc, who recently had her youngest son, Walter, in a critical condition in a hospital that was not suitably equipped to care for him. It was the RCH PIPER (Paediatric Infant Perinatal Emergency Retrieval) team that was called and immediately took charge. Sarah recalls “the PIPER team essentially changed the outcome for Walter, intubated him and safely transported him to the nearest PICU”. “Their expertises, calm under pressure and care for our family was beyond measure”

Walter is pictured below with Sarah and his older brother Teddy, holding a Mark Knight 2023 Premiership poster.

North Brunswick President, Frankie Freeman, recalls her family’s engagement with the RCH. Frankie’s younger sister was born prematurely and required lifesaving surgery. “The Royal Children’s Hospital not only saved my sisters life when she was born but made me and my family feel safe and cared for. I am so thankful for all the staff there now and those from the past for the amazing work they have done and continue to do,” said Frankie.

As a proud Community Football association, the VAFA is proud to support the Good Friday Appeal and the RCH and would ask all members of its community to support the Fundraising campaign by buying a raffle ticket or donating to the VAFA GFA Fundraising page below.